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Mixed time conditional sentences?
Hello,
1. If I weren't late, I wouldn't be fired. (second conditional)
2. If I hadn't been late, I wouldn't have been fired. (third conditional)
3. If I weren't late, I wouldn't have been fired. (Mixed time)
4. If I hadn't been late, I wouldn't be fired. (Mixed time)
This is my question: Why 4 is impossible and incorrect?
4. If I hadn't been late, I wouldn't be fired. (Mixed time)
My analysis: I was late so I am fired now. (I think 4 is possible. Suppose that on Saturday, I come to office a little bit late and on Thursday you (boss) decide to make me fired)
Would you please explain number 4 simply that why 4 is unlikely to happen?
5 Answers
- 7 years agoFavorite Answer
Number 4 is reporting prior historic events -so both clauses need to reflect that. It would be correct to say 'I wouldn't have been fired' in the second part of number 4, keeping the whole thing in the past
- CandyshopgirlLv 77 years ago
4 should read something like - If I hadn't been late, I wouldn't be out of a job now.
'Fired' simply doesn't fit properly into that sentence.
- ?Lv 67 years ago
No 4. Implies that you were really fired because you were late in coming to ..(your office late). Had
You been able to attend your office on time, you wouldn't have been fired.
Thanks & happy reading / Good morning.
Source(s): A teacher at a Girls' Higher Secondary School. - Anonymous7 years ago
1. Present conditional.
2 & 3. Past conditional.
4. " ...I wouldn`t have been fired ." or "..I wouldn`t be out of a job".
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- Tracy LoveLv 66 years ago
Actually your 4th example is perfectly acceptable but because it is quite complicated, you should revise it for clarity reasons. For example, using multiple negatives in a sentence requires extra thought for the listener but the purpose of language is to transfer thoughts from you to others and efficiency is better.
